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Congressman Panetta Secures Bold Legislation in First-Ever House Climate Crisis Action Plan

June 30, 2020

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis unveiled a comprehensive congressional climate action framework, which includes Congressman Jimmy Panetta's (CA-20) legislation, the Green Bus Tax Credit Act, H.R. 5163 and the Clean Energy Production Parity Act, H.R. 2040. By tackling climate change through the tax code and incentivizing the adoption of clean energy technologies, these bills will help meet the report's ambitious but attainable climate goals.

The Select Committee's climate action framework outlines policies reach 100% net zero emissions economy-wide in the United States by no later than 2050 and achieve net-negative emissions thereafter. The Select Committee's plan also addresses the legacy of environmental injustice harming America's low-income communities and communities of color and outlines steps to:

  • Grow our economy and put Americans back to work in clean energy jobs,
  • Protect the health of all families,
  • Make sure our communities and farmers can withstand the impacts of climate change, and
  • Protect America's land and water for the next generation

"After a year and half of hard work in the 116th session of the House of Representatives, including over 80 hearings about the effects of climate change, I am proud that the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis formulated an Action Plan. This necessary roadmap for responsible and immediate Congressional action to fight the climate crisis sets bold but achievable targets for a clean energy economy and tangible improvements in people's lives," said Congressman Panetta. "As a member of the Congressional Ways and Means Committee, I worked to include my pieces of legislation that would use the tax code to deploy zero-emissions public transportation vehicles and provide tax incentives for clean energy technologies. Moreover, as a member of the Congressional Agriculture Committee, I worked to ensure that this report bolsters our conservation programs, invests in technical assistance, and elevates climate-smart agricultural practices so that our domestic agriculture continues to play an essential role in the fight against climate change. However, it will take all sectors of the economy and all of us in our democracy to invest in climate-smart industries, prevent new oil and gas leasing in our public lands and waters, and equitably decarbonize our economy, so that, ultimately, we can protect the future of our families on this planet."

"We have a plan – and it comes at a critical time," said Chair Castor. "Our plan will put people back to work and rebuild in a way that benefits all of us. The health of our families and the air we breathe are at the heart of our plan. That means environmental justice and our vulnerable communities are at the center of the solutions we propose. We chart the course to good-paying jobs in solar and wind energy, in manufacturing American-made electric vehicles, and in strengthening communities, so they are more resilient to flooding, extreme heat, intense hurricanes and wildfires."

The full Select Committee report is viewable here.

Background:

The House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis was created at the outset of the 116th Congress to deliver policy recommendations to other House committees on how to solve the climate crisis.